circulate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To move continuously around a system and back to the start

   Blood circulates through the body, carrying oxygen to the cells.

2. 2
   verb

   To spread widely, or to make information spread to many people

   Rumours quickly circulated around the office after the announcement.

3. 3
   verb

   To pass something around so that many people receive it

   The manager circulated the report to all the staff.

4. 4
   verb

   To move around and talk to different people, especially at a social event

   The host circulated among the guests, greeting everyone.

Borrowed from Late Latin circulātus, perfect passive participle of Late Latin circulō (“to make circular, encircle”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), a later collateral form of circulor (“form a circle (of men) around oneself”), from circulus (“a circle”). See also Middle English circulat(e) (“(alchemy) changed by continuous distillation in a closed vessel”).

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